OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Qinghuang Powder (QHP) combined Chinese herbs for Pi-strengthening and Shen-reinforcing (CHPSSR) on hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in bone marrow mononuclear cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.

METHODSChanges of HIF-1alpha in bone marrow mononuclear cells of MDS patients were detected in 25 MDS patients treated by QHP combined CHPSSR using flow cytometry. Meanwhile, 13 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. Changes HIF-1alpha levels in various serial bone marrow mononuclear cells were detected.

RESULTS(1) Among the 25 patients in the treatment group, there were 19 patients effective and 6 patients ineffective, with the total effective rate being 76%. (2) Compared with before treatment, levels of peripheral blood WBC, Hb, PLT, and ANC significantly increased in the treatment group after treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) Compared with before treatment, the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity was enhanced in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity was weakened in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of the treatment group before treatment; while it was obviously enhanced in granulocytes (P < 0.01). But after treatment the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity increased more in the granulocytes of the treatment group than in those of the control group (P < 0.01), but there was no statistical difference in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, or nucleated red blood cells.

CONCLUSIONQHP combined CHPSSR could improve HIF-1alpha levels in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of MDS patients, thus improving Hb levels of MDS patients, and improving their anemia and correlated symptoms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenicals ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult

Abstract: Objective　To collect extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from Xi'an City between 2019 and 2020, and analyze the drug resistance patterns of XDR-TB strains to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and the occurrence of new defined extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Xi'an, in order to provide evidence for guiding clinical drug use of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Methods A total of 3 088 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that underwent phenotypic drug susceptibility testing at Xi'an Chest Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively selected to analyze the resistance of anti-tuberculosis drug. Among the stored MDR-TB strains, 114 strains of preserved multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis were randomly selected for bedaquiline and linezolid susceptibility testing. Combined with the results of previous second-line drug susceptibility testing, the incidence of newly defined extensive drug resistance was analyzed. Results Among the 3 088 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains analyzed, 411 strains (14.3%) showed resistance to isoniazid, 347 strains (11.2%) showed resistance to rifampicin, 142 strains (4.6%) showed resistance to ethambutol, 550 strains (17.8%) showed resistance to streptomycin, and 237 strains (7.6%) exhibited multidrug resistance. Of 237 MDR-TB strains, the resistance rates of ethambutol, moxifloxacin, rifampicin, sodium para-aminosalicylate, prothioconazole, capreomycin, amikacin, and clofazimine were 44.3%, 26.6%, 33.3%, 24.1%, 5.1%, 4.2%, 3.0%, and 2.5%, respectively. Among the randomly selected 114 MDR-TB strains, none showed resistance to bedaquiline, three showed resistance to linezolid, and one strain met the new definition for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Conclusion In Xi'an City, high rates of resistance among MDR-TB strains are observed for ethambutol, quinolone and sodium para-aminosalicylate, and the drug susceptibility tests should be obtained as much as possible when using these drugs. The incidence of new definition extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is low, and bedaquiline and linezolid remain effective drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis even without drug susceptibility testing results.

ObjectiveTo practice second-level prevention of breast cancer, conduct serial experiments on blocking precancerous change of breast cancer thus reduce its incidence rate. MethodsAfter the segment resection of primary lesions the breast precancerous lesions with ductal hyporplasia (DH) atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DCIS), lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LCIS) ,detected hormone receptors ER, PR and c-erbB-2, P53 were detected. With individualized comprehensive treatment, the positive patients with ER and PR was treated with tamoxifen; the postmenopausal patients took anastrozole to reduce the levels of estrogen; the positive patients with c-erbB-2 were treated with chemotherapy and the combined treatment; the patients with preoperative diagnosis of malignant cells were taken with the ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection; all patients were observed and followed up.ResultsThere were 126 cases of the breast precancerous lesions from 1992 to 2008, including 75 cases of ADH with the positive rates of ER and PR 86.6％, c-erbB-2 1.33％, P53 0; 51 cases of DCIS and LCIS with the positive rates of ER and PR 84.6％, c-erbB-2 4％ ,P53 4％ ; Axillary lymph node reactive hyperplasia were 0/9 - 0/18. ConclusionsBreast precancerous lesions of ADH, DCIS, LCIS are local symptoms of the systemic disease, the segment resection of primary lesions and comprehensive treatment ( endocrine, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) based on immunohistochemical expression are effective through which the incidence rate of breast cancer could be largely controlled or suppressed.

Objective To explore the pathologic changes in the brain areas corresponding to specific cognitive function and underlying mechanism of cognitive impairment in patients with epilepsy by DTI study.Methods Forty-four Patients and 20 control subjects received the test of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Diffusion-Tensor Imaging examination.Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in the normal appearing white matter of interested area were measured.T test was employed to compare the MD and FA between patients and healthy controls,patients with normal and impaired FIQ respectively.The relationships between FIQ and DTI value were analyzed by Bivariate correlations.Results VIQ (100.52?17.63),PIQ (95.10?16.72) and FIQ (98.19?17.76) of the patients with epilepsy were significantly lower than those of health controls (VIQ,PIQ and FIQ were 109.77?13.54,108.11? 12.17 and 109.81?10.57,respectively).Significant reduction of FA in both side of posterior limb of internal capsule (P

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of treating lumbar muscle strain(LMS)with Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)plus Chinese medication hot compress. Methods:A total of 147 LMS patients were randomized into a Tuina group,a Chinese medication hot compress group,and a combined group,each consisting of 49 cases.The Tuina group received Tuina treatment;the Chinese medication hot compress group received Chinese medication hot compress treatment;and the combined group received the forementioned two therapies alternately.The three groups of patients were assessed using the visual analog scale(VAS)and Oswestry disability index(ODI)before treatment and after 2 weeks of treatment.A 2-month follow-up was also conducted to observe the relapse rate. Results:The VAS and ODI scores dropped significantly after treatment in all three groups compared with their baseline(P<0.05),and the combined group surpassed the other two groups in comparing the ODI score(P<0.05).The 2-month follow-up showed that the combined group had the lowest relapse rate among the three groups(P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared to each therapy used alone,Tuina plus Chinese medication hot compress can relieve pain,improve daily living function,and reduce the short-term relapse rate better in treating LMS patients.

OBJECTIVE To understand the distribution and epidemiology of ESBLs in ceftazidime or cefotaxime-(resistant) clinical Enterobacter cloacae isolates.METHODS Twenty seven ceftazidime or cefotaxime-resistant(nonrepetitive) E.cloacae were collected from 27 patients hospitalized at the Huashan Hospital,Shanghai.PCR and(sequencing) were performed to understand the distribution of ESBLs in E.cloacae;rep-PCR was(performed) to(understand) the epidemiology of ESBLs in E.cloacae.RESULTS CTX-M-3 like(ESBLs) were the most prevalent in our study(48%);this was the first report of VEB-1-like ESBLs in the member of(Enterobacteriaceae) in China,and the first report of the ESBLs VEB-1-like and CTX-M-3-like in an isolate simultaneously;the majority of(ESBLs) producers exhibited the same rep-PCR pattern,but harbored different ESBLs gene.(CONCLUSIONS) In our study,ESBLs have become prevalent in clinical E.cloacae isolates,and become an important factor of E.cloacae isolates resistant to extended-spectrum beta(-lactams).

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure in intervening primary insomnia.Methods:A total of 72 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial,with 36 cases allocated to a treatment group and 36 cases allocated to a control group.Both groups were given dexzopiclone as the routine treatment.Patients in the treatment group were given auricular acupressure with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds at the auricular acupoints related to sleep and emotion based on meridian theory,whereas for patients in the control group,the medical plasters with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds were only gently stuck to acupoints unrelated to sleep without stimulation.Patients in both groups were required to visit the hospital once a week for replacing the seeds and plasters.The course of intervention lasted for 8 weeks and the patients were followed up for another 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Karolinska sleep diary (KSD) were used to evaluate the outcomes.Meanwhile,adverse effects were monitored and recorded.Results:In the enrolled 72 cases,4 patients (one in the treatment group and three in the control group) reported thirst and a bitter taste,and one case in the control group reported nausea and vomiting.At last,3 cases in the control group dropped out for adverse reactions,and 69 cases completed the clinical trial.After 8 weeks of treatment,the global scores of PSQI in both treatment and control groups decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P＜0.001).Furthermore,the global score of PSQI in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01).The global scores of PSQI in both groups at the follow-up were significantly different from the baseline (both P＜0.001),but insignificantly different compared with the post-treatment results (both P＞0.05).According to KSD,both treatment protocols could prolong the total sleep time,shorten sleep-onset latency,improve sleep efficacy and sleep quality significantly,and the changes in the treatment group were more significant.The total effective rate was 88.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 81.8％ in the control group,though the difference was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure is effective and safe for patients with primary insomnia both in short and long terms,and it is more effective than monotherapy of dexzopiclone.

Adoptive immunotherapy using allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells provides to be useful in recipients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT), but its application has been limited by the inability to obtain sufficient numbers of pure NK cells. This study was aimed to optimize the expansion of high purity NK cells from human peripheral blood. First, the NK cells were isolated from PBMNC by using miniMACS (magnetic cell-selection) and NK Cell Isolation Kit II. Then the isolated cells were cultured in SCEM (Stemline Hematopoietic Stem Cell Expansion Medium, Sigma) supplemented with 10% human AB serum and different combinations of IL-2 and/or IL-12, IL-15 for 15 days. Cultures were fed with fresh media and cytokines every 3 days, and were evaluated for cell expansion, phenotype, and cytotoxicity at the end of the culture period. The results showed that in group IL2 + IL15 and IL2 + IL15 + IL12, cells were expanded 50.46 +/- 4.31 and 52.35 +/- 6.72-fold respectively, much higher than others (P<0.01), but no significant difference between themselves (P>0.05). And the purity of CD3(-)CD56(+) NK cells was over 94% in all groups except the control. The cytotoxicity of expanded NK cells cultured with cytokines was significantly higher than the starting population at different E:T ratio (P<0.01), although the cytotoxicity of IL2 + IL15 + IL12 group was slightly higher than that of IL2 + IL15 group, but no significant difference between themselves (P>0.05). It is concluded that high purity of NK cells can be efficiently expanded in culture with IL2 + IL15.
CD3 Complex ; analysis ; CD56 Antigen ; analysis ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Separation ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Humans ; Interleukin-15 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo establish an efficient and stable method for protein extraction of Streptococcus mutans.

METHODSThe collected bacteria were treated by freeze-thaw and ultrasonic (method 1), ultrasonic (method 2), boiling (method 3), boiling and ultrasonic (method 4), respectively. The index such as state of bacteria broken, concentration of extracted protein and SDS-PAGE of protein were employed to evaluate the effects of above four methods.

RESULTSBeside the method 3, the other three methods could break the bacteria effectively, of which ultrasonic was the key factor. The pattern of SDS-PAGE which treated by method 1, method 2 and method 4 was almost same, but method 1 resulted in the best abundance. There was significantly difference among the four protein concentration extracted by four methods (P < 0.05). All methods exhibited good stability and reproducibility.

CONCLUSIONMethod of freeze-thaw and ultrasonic resulted in an efficient proteins extraction of Streptococcus mutans which demonstrated good stability and reproducibility and easy to handle.

Bacterial Proteins ; Reproducibility of Results ; Streptococcus mutans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antibacterial activity of decoction of Radix glycyrrhizae against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) in vitro.

METHODSThe decoction of Radix glycyrrhizae was prepared by boiling particles of Radix glycyrrhizae, the diameter was 0.2-3.2 mm. In distilled water and filtered, the filtrate was collected for study. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the decoction against S. mutans were detected using double dilution. The effect of decoction on growth and acidogenic profile of S. mutans were investigated by detecting the Abs of bacteria suspension and the pH value of medium at definite time intervals(0, 3, 7, 12, 23, 40 h) during cultured.

RESULTSThe MIC determined for decoction was 50 mg x mL(-1) and there was no bactericidal effect when concentration of decoction lower than 100 mg x mL(-1). The decoction inhibitted multiplication of bacteria significantly and the effects became stronger with concentration increasing. The decoction also inhibitted S. mutans producing acid and the effect became stronger with concentration increasing. The most efficient inhibition were observed when incubated 12 hours.

CONCLUSIONThe decoction of Radix glycyrrhizae can inhibite the growth and acid-production of S. mutans in vitro.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; In Vitro Techniques ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Plant Extracts ; Streptococcus mutans